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CNM vs FERG
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Core & Main (CNM) vs. Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- Core & Main (CNM) and Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) operate in overlapping industrial distribution sectors focused on water, plumbing, and infrastructure products, with FERG maintaining a significantly larger scale and broader HVAC exposure.
- Recent market activity shows both stocks influenced by sector demand for infrastructure and construction, with CNM reporting fiscal Q1 2026 results that exceeded analyst expectations on earnings while FERG prepares for its Q2 2026 earnings release.
- FERG exhibits higher market capitalization and revenue scale compared to CNM, positioning it with greater diversification across repair, maintenance, and new construction end markets.
- Relative performance in recent weeks reflects broader industrial sector trends, including sensitivity to interest rates and municipal spending, without clear dominance by either name in short-term momentum.
- Both companies share exposure to similar macroeconomic drivers such as infrastructure investment and housing activity, creating trade-offs in growth potential versus operational stability.
- Market sentiment remains tied to earnings visibility and supply chain execution for these specialty distributors.
Introduction
Core & Main (CNM) and Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) represent two prominent players in the industrial distribution space, particularly within water, wastewater, plumbing, and fire protection products. This comparison examines their business models, recent performance dynamics, and market positioning to assist institutional investors, active traders, and portfolio managers evaluating relative value within the sector. The analysis focuses on verifiable fundamentals and observable trends rather than forward projections, offering insights relevant to those assessing diversification or tactical allocation opportunities in specialty distribution equities.
Core & Main Overview and Recent Performance
Core & Main (CNM) specializes in distributing water, wastewater, storm drainage, and fire protection products and services primarily across the United States and Canada. The company serves municipalities, private water utilities, and contractors in municipal, non-residential, and residential markets. In recent market activity, CNM shares have responded to fiscal first-quarter 2026 results that included revenue slightly ahead of consensus alongside stronger-than-expected adjusted earnings. Sentiment has been supported by operational execution and exposure to essential infrastructure spending, though broader construction and interest-rate sensitivity have contributed to measured price behavior in recent weeks.
Ferguson Enterprises Overview and Recent Performance
Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) is a leading distributor of plumbing, heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC), and related products, serving professional contractors across repair, maintenance, improvement, new construction, and civil infrastructure markets in the United States and Canada. Recent market activity for FERG reflects steady execution in core end markets ahead of its fiscal second-quarter 2026 earnings release. The larger scale of operations has provided resilience amid fluctuating demand patterns, with share performance influenced by sector-wide factors including supply-chain optimization and end-market mix in recent weeks.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
Core & Main (CNM) maintains a narrower focus on water and fire protection infrastructure, while Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) offers broader exposure across plumbing and HVAC categories, resulting in greater revenue diversification for the latter. Business-model contrasts include CNM’s emphasis on municipal and utility customers versus FERG’s heavier weighting toward residential and commercial repair markets. Recent momentum for both has been shaped by similar macroeconomic influences, yet FERG’s larger market capitalization provides different liquidity and volatility characteristics. Risk factors differ in concentration: CNM faces greater relative exposure to public-sector spending cycles, whereas FERG contends with wider cyclical swings in private construction. Sector sentiment remains balanced, with both equities sensitive to interest-rate movements and infrastructure policy developments, creating distinct trade-offs for investors seeking varying degrees of scale and end-market balance.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Based on observable factors such as trend consistency in earnings delivery, relative scale advantages, and positioning within essential distribution channels, Tickeron’s AI models currently assign a modestly higher probabilistic preference to Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) for stability in the current environment. This assessment rests on FERG’s broader diversification and historical execution metrics rather than any single catalyst, with outcomes remaining subject to ongoing market developments and earnings updates.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer.
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is CNM is a Buy and FERG is a Buy.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
CNM’s FA Score shows that 0 FA rating(s) are green whileFERG’s FA Score has 2 green FA rating(s).
- CNM’s FA Score: 0 green, 5 red.
- FERG’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
CNM’s TA Score shows that 4 TA indicator(s) are bullish while FERG’s TA Score has 6 bullish TA indicator(s).
- CNM’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 3 bearish.
- FERG’s TA Score: 6 bullish, 4 bearish.
Price Growth
CNM (@Electronics Distributors) experienced а +1.43% price change this week, while FERG (@Electronics Distributors) price change was -2.07% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Electronics Distributors industry was -0.52%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +8.51%, and the average quarterly price growth was +6.60%.
Reported Earning Dates
CNM is expected to report earnings on Sep 09, 2026.
FERG is expected to report earnings on Nov 09, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Electronics Distributors (-0.52% weekly)Electronics distributors are companies that are involved in distribution of one or more of the following: electronic components, computer products/ peripherals and software products & services. Several electronics distributors are also becoming the point of contact for technical/pre- & post-sale support in many cases, in an attempt to bolster their position in the market. Tariffs and/or cross-border trade barriers are some of the potential threats to the electronics supply chain, but that could also potentially lead to re-directing to markets where tariffs/restrictions are lower depending on demand. The industry is also vulnerable in the event of economic slowdowns. Arrow Electronics, Inc., SYNNEX Corporation and Versum Materials, Inc. are some of the major electronics distributors in the U.S.
| CNM | FERG | CNM / FERG | |
| Capitalization | 8.64B | 48B | 18% |
| EBITDA | 924M | 3.08B | 30% |
| Gain YTD | -11.218 | 12.746 | -88% |
| P/E Ratio | 19.55 | 24.42 | 80% |
| Revenue | 7.65B | 31.2B | 25% |
| Total Cash | 150M | 820M | 18% |
| Total Debt | 2.44B | 6.08B | 40% |
FERG | ||
|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 46 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 43 Fair valued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 30 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 31 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 51 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 65 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 85 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
| CNM | FERG | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | N/A | 2 days ago 49% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 71% | 2 days ago 64% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 76% | 2 days ago 74% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 75% | 2 days ago 69% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 79% | 2 days ago 55% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 77% | 2 days ago 66% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 10 days ago 78% | 11 days ago 68% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 25 days ago 63% | 3 days ago 57% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 84% | 2 days ago 57% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 73% | 2 days ago 59% |
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CNM and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, CNM has been loosely correlated with FERG. These tickers have moved in lockstep 50% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if CNM jumps, then FERG could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To CNM | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CNM | 100% | +0.17% | ||
| FERG - CNM | 50% Loosely correlated | +1.20% | ||
| SITE - CNM | 48% Loosely correlated | +1.20% | ||
| BXC - CNM | 48% Loosely correlated | +0.46% | ||
| AIT - CNM | 48% Loosely correlated | +1.51% | ||
| WCC - CNM | 47% Loosely correlated | -1.42% | ||
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FERG and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, FERG has been loosely correlated with WSO. These tickers have moved in lockstep 56% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if FERG jumps, then WSO could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To FERG | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FERG | 100% | +1.20% | ||
| WSO - FERG | 56% Loosely correlated | +0.71% | ||
| AIT - FERG | 56% Loosely correlated | +1.51% | ||
| WCC - FERG | 53% Loosely correlated | -1.42% | ||
| CNM - FERG | 49% Loosely correlated | +0.17% | ||
| BXC - FERG | 49% Loosely correlated | +0.46% | ||
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